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ACTIVE SHOOTER
C
olumbine High School, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook
Elementary, Fort Hood, Columbia Mall. Active shooter
incidents continue to occur at an alarming rate. In fact
FBI studies indicate that since the Columbine incident in 1999,
such incidents have steadily increased both in frequency and the
number of victims involved. These tragic, senseless events remind
each of us of the unpredictable nature of troubled minds and
the vulnerability that comes with getting caught up in chance
circumstances. We grieve for the innocent lives lost and the
heartbreak of families shattered. We speculate the motives behind
violent exploits and mindless vengeance. But we also internalize
the threat and struggle with the realization that we, or our loved
ones, could have just as easily filled the faces of the victims.
An active shooter is an armed person engaged in killing or
attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, and
continues to do so while having access to additional victims. In
most cases there is no pattern or method to their selection of
victims. These situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly,
often with the shooter continuing to move throughout the area
until stopped by law enforcement, suicide, or other intervention.
Fortunately, these types of incidents don't happen very often.
But the circumstances leading to the confrontation can vary
significantly. Understanding how to react if confronted with
an active shooter situation is critical. These decisions can quite
literally mean the difference between life and death. If you are
in harm's way, you will need to decide rapidly what the safest
course of action is based on the scenario that is unfolding before
you. However, regardless of the specific situation our goals
remain the same:
■ We want to survive the confrontation,
■ We want to reduce the risk that the individual will use the
weapon, and
■ We want to minimize the opportunity for anyone to get hurt.
What is the potential threat for incidents in the retail
environment? According to statistics gathered by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, 40 percent of all active shooter events
take place in business locations, including retail stores, office
buildings, and warehouses. That places retail among the most
frequent locations for such attacks. The threat is real, and the
concerns are legitimate.
However, our concerns don't stop there. When responding to an
active-shooter incident, these same FBI reports note that it typically
takes law enforcement seven to ten minutes to arrive on scene. In
contrast, it takes active shooters on average three to five minutes to
accomplish their intended objectives. Most often, the event is over
before assistance arrives.
So realistically, who are the first responders? Who carries the
burden of following a plan, mitigating the risk, and protecting
lives? That responsibility falls on the shoulders of our loss
prevention teams, our managers, and our associates. We must
have a practical and actionable plan in place to help protect our
associates and customers, and keep everyone as safe as possible
until help can arrive.
The Importance of a Plan
"You need to have a plan, and practice the plan," says Jeremiah
Hart, lead instructor and senior analyst at the Force Training
Institute. "Planning to have a plan is not
a plan. There's a need for leadership. It's
important that we take the appropriate
steps to ensure our people are prepared
and put the plan in motion."
Research clearly indicates that practice
and preparation are critically important
when responding to incidents that
involve workplace violence, especially
when dealing with situations involving a
weapon. When faced with a traumatic,
highly stressful situation, an untrained
response can be highly unpredictable and
may put us at greater risk. As the situation unfolds, our stress can
mount and our anxiety can intensify. Rash or impulsive responses
can lead to poor decisions and regretful outcomes.
What we need is a practical and responsible plan of action
that helps guide us through these traumatic situations. Practice
and preparation can help us organize our thoughts. It can have
a significant impact on the end result by helping us to overcome
some of our initial anxiety, recall valuable information that can
help us through the situation, help prepare us for the situation we
are facing, and ultimately build the foundation that supports our
commitment to act. Knowing how to respond is the first step in
keeping everyone safe.
Hart, who appeared at the Retail Industry Leaders Association's
(RILA) Asset Protection Conference in April, has worked with
numerous retail organizations and Fortune 500 companies to create
and implement active-shooter mitigation programs. He is also a
police sergeant in Los Angeles County and has testified as an expert
in law enforcement training, policies, procedures, and use-of-force
issues. LP Magazine recently sat down with Hart, who offered many
valuable insights that can improve our programs and help save lives.
Many retailers today have put plans to paper. We put great effort
into taking the necessary steps to spell out what may happen, where
ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS BY LOCATION
*Statistics Provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation 2014
SCHOOL 29%
OTHER
12%
BUSINESS 40%
OUTDOORS 19%
Jeremiah Hart
50
JULY - AUGUST 2014 | LPPORTAL.COM